Bloodline

PROLOGUE

GAIL RYLEIGH

HE TOOK a small black case from his drawer. It was a hand-size rectangular case with a small lock on it. I looked at it, confused, and curious about what it is.

She knelt in front of me while I was sitting on his wooden chair.

"My dear Gail," he called me out as he gripped tightly on that small black case he was holding. I noticed a worried look on his face.

"Papa, are you okay?" I asked. "You seem worried."

When I told him about it, he just smiled and carefully grabbed my hand. I can feel his cold hands as he enclosed my hands with the small black case inside of it. He looked at me while gripping my hand.

"Remember what I said?" he asked. I recalled that one momentous thing he told me.

"If you have enigmas, hold onto your will and you'll discover answers for it," I said after recalling it inside my head.

He gave me a comforting smile after hearing what I've said. Papa told me that every day, making sure that I always remember it.

When he first told me about it, aaminin ko na namangha ako do'n even though hindi ko alam ang ibig sabihin nito. As days passes by, I started to get annoyed na pinaulit-ulit sa akin 'to ni Papa. I don't even know the reason why do I need to know this.

"Now, imagine this is your will yet a mystery," he said and he let go of my hand. I opened my fists and gazed at the small case on my palm. He stood up and sat on his desk.

"What do you mean that this is my will and this is also a mystery?" I asked, confused.

He gazed elsewhere before he spoke.

"My dear, you are a curious person," he said and looked at the black case on my palm, ignoring my question. "Before having enigmas, it all starts with curiosity. Curiosity kills, they say but it isn't a bad thing."

I know that for a fact- or maybe not. It isn't a bad thing but it can sometimes bring danger into our peaceful life. That's just from a random thought of mine.

"You were ignoring my question," I straightforwardly said.

He just sighed. "There are some things you need to figure out on your own. It is a part of your survival and a test of your ability. Mysteries are one of those."

That made me even more confused. Nakakapanibago dahil ngayon lang ganito naging ganito ang pananalita ni Papa. It is like in his own words, there are mysteries behind it.

"I-"

"Gail! Pa! Kakain na!" narinig kong sigaw ni Mama mula sa labas ng kuwarto ni Papa.

"It's time for dinner. Magpalit ka na muna. Make sure to join or your Lola will scold you," he ordered with a warning, knowing I'll object and I just nodded.

I placed the black case he given me inside the pocket of my blazer. I made my way out of my father's room. Pumanik muna ako sa aking kuwarto upang makapagpalit. I still can't get over Papa's words. I am a very curious person and when this curiosity inside me triggered, I can feel an urge for me to be very interested to know what's the answer to a certain problem or question. Kung nakakamatay nga talaga ang kuryosidad, I would've been dead for a very long time.

Matapos kong magpalit, naisipan ko nang bumaba upang sumabay sa hapunan. Hindi ko ugaling sumabay sa kanila dahil sa madaming dahilan. Dalawa na dito ay una, puro sila tanong tungkol sa nangyayari sa akin o kung ano ba ang ginagawa ko sa school at pangalawa, kailangan kong magpakababae sa kanilang harap. Not describing myself as a lesbian or something but because I ain't modest. When my Lola found out that I was wearing a crop top, she hit me with her clutch. That's why ever since I practiced eating my "linner" which stands for lunch and dinner. I even made my portmanteau word. Though, it only had been a month ever since I skipped eating dinner with them.

Despite all of that reason, I just felt an urge to join them. Maybe because of conscience? I have no idea. That's why I decided to join them now. Maybe they were self-reflecting with their actions after a month of not joining them.

As soon I entered the dining hall, I realized I made an imprudent decision. It is because after entering that room, all of us became a suspect and my father had suddenly...

...disappeared without a trace.

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